Men’s Health

Patient Testimonial

It’s not a conversation that any guy wants to have but talking about erectile dysfunction (ED) can be one of the most impactful decisions you can make. Watch the testimonial video below to learn a first-hand account on the impact that a penile impact has had on Bob. He is back to enjoying a satisfying sex life which has helped to rekindle his relationship both sexually and emotionally.

Bob shows that you don’t have to accept ED as a part of getting older. Even if other treatment options haven’t worked for you, a penile implant could be the right choice to help regain your confidence.

Unable to watch Bob's video? Read his story below

What circumstances lead you to get a penile prosthesis?

My name is Bob Harvey and I'm a prostate cancer survivor. I'm 72 years of age. I was very fortunate in that up until the age of 65 I had never had any problems with ED. My wife and I actually were high school sweethearts, so we started going out when we were 16. We had a very long and wonderful sex life until I was 65 when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

I was diagnosed in January of 2004. I had a radical prostatectomy in February of 2004 and after which, even though it was a nerve sparing prostatectomy, I was unable to achieve an erection after the prostatectomy. I researched the Coloplast penile implant very well. My background’s in the sciences, I probably over researched let’s say, but I attended seminars and I felt very good about it, but I wasn't ready to move ahead until, in November of 2007, I had the opportunity to speak with two men who had it done.

I spoke with them in November and I had my implant done December 13th, so I immediately knew it was the real thing, because even speaking with Dr. Sadeghi, who is one of the leading persons in the field, and I knew he knew what he was talking about, other than he couldn't tell me how it felt to have it. But when I spoke to men and they shared their experiences with me as to how it affected their lives and how it really felt, I knew that it was real and I said “I would have to be stupid not to go ahead with it”. So I did and it's worked out very very well.

How was your recovery?

My recovery was, again, I never sugar-coat it for the guys. You're gonna have some soreness and you’re going to have some pain but nothing severe. My recovery, it went very well.

How long was it until you were moving around normally?

I’d say it was about seven weeks. But see when I had, when I was going in for the implant, Dr. Sadeghi noticed the bulge in my abdomen, so he wanted me to go to the chief of vascular surgery Dr. Napolitano in Hackensack, and I did. He said, “You have an abdominal wall hernia.” I said “Okay, do that first, then I will have the implant.” He said, “How would you like to have it all done under the one anesthesia?” I mean I didn't even mention it, I was like “My god, wonderful,” and so they did (both surgeries) under one anesthesia. Dr. Sadeghi did the implant and Dr. Napolitano put the mesh in and repaired the hernia. Even with that I was back in the gym within 7 weeks. Of course I cut my weights way back, but I was back, and by, I would say, three months I was back to working with full weights.

How has sex changed since you received a penile implant?

I don't have to say, “Well am I gonna get erection?” I know I'm going to get an erection. If you have a couple drinks (which I don't drink anyway) but if you have a couple of drinks or, you know, whatever the reason you’re gonna get an erection because this is a mechanical device and it doesn't care if you have had a couple of drinks.

How has your life changed since you decided to get a penile implant?

Oh it’s like night and day. The one thing, and, you know, I know I can't be the only one, and the fellows I mention it to, they admit it. Guys don't like to talk about having ED, but when they’re sitting down with somebody who's been through it, and can relate to what they're going through, I said, “You know what I miss the most” I said, “it was the emotional intimacy I had with my wife, with your partner.” Because, normally you would, you want to give her a hug or give her a kiss but you tend not to do that.It's a very gradual withdrawal because you're saying, “Okay, I give her a kiss but then what happens,” and you know nothing happens if you have ED. You tend to withdraw so that situation doesn't come up and you miss it and you feel very guilty because you know your wife or your partner misses it. I think in general women are more emotional than men and that was a big part of it. Being able to regain that, you take it for granted. From the time you’re 15, 16, 14, somewhere around there, you take an erection as a right that's given to you, that you’re always going to have. Then when it’s gone, it’s just an amazing difference.

You tend to withdraw into yourself. You question your own manhood. I did. I know other guys, when they get honest they tell me the same thing. You really do question it, and when I spoke to the fellas in November 2007, they said this is going to give you your life back. You always take something like that with a grain of salt, but three-plus years since I’ve had the implant; they hit it right on the head. They were absolutely right. It’s exactly what it did. You can’t explain not only the physical aspect of it, but the effect on your psyche, but it’s just a wonderful thing.